SPORTING

Evening Post, Issue 29, 3 August 1936, Page 11

SPORTING

A QUICK CHANGE

RICCARTON TRACK

FAST NATIONAL POSSIBLE

(By Telegraph.) (Special to the "Eveninfl Post.")

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

A visit to Riccarton this morning showed that a surprising change had taken place over the weekend. Under the influence of sun and wind yesterday a rapid thaw occurred and by night most of the snow had disappeared in the open, though there remained plenty of it in sheltered places. A severe frost last night checked the thaw, and this morning the ground was very hard. Only the sand track was open, but even this was rough and hard as a result of the frost, so that trainers were diffident about doing much work on.it. Many horses were given walking exercise In the centre of the course, and others were sent on the roads.

A few of the trainers had ideas about sending their horses over the schooling obstacles this morning. Most of the snow had disappeared but there remained enough,of it to cause a,change of plans, as it was frozen hard arid might not have provided good ground, either on the take-off or the landing side. There was some talk, however, of jumping in the afternoon after the course had thawed again un"der the sun's influence.

Mr. P. D. McNab, the course manager, had his staff out on Saturday afternoon attending to the fences on the Grand National course. The snow was scraped away from all except Cutts's fence, which was attended to this morning. With this treatment the ground in the vicinity of the fences will have a good opportunity of drying, and already there is evidence of the wisdom of the prompt action.

It has, been the practice for some years past to open the ' steeplechase course on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in' the week before the Grand National Meeting, in order that horses might have a run-over the big fences. With the abandonment of the Hunt Club's Meeting last Saturday this will be the only opportunity for an acquaintance with the Grand National fences. Mr. McNab is of opinion" that tomorrow will be too early but the steeplechase course will be available to trainers of jumpers on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Under normal weather conditions the outside of the course proper would have been open for galloping tomorrow and on Thursday, but plans have been modified. The outside of the trial grass tracks will be : available tomorrow, while the outside of the,,course proper will be open on Thursday and Saturday. ' ' ,■ • ■

Discussing the effect: of the snowfall on next week's meeting, Mr. McNab stated this morning that he expected the course to dry: rapidly under the favourable conditions that might be expected now. Having in mind that the Riccarton course recovered quickly after rain, he offered the prediction that' the track would be very fast next week.